Diaphragm-actuated mechanism.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

13. THOMSON. DIAPHRAGM AGTUATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU THOMSON, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filedlarch 25,1904. s ge No, 200.016.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIHU THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diapl1ragn1Actuated Mechanisms, of which the following is a s ecification.

he object of the present invention is to rovide a diaphragm-actuated mechanism or use in connection with valves, regulators, and other devices which is sensitive to small variations in pressure, has a wide range of movement, and is capable of withstanding 15 high pressures without injury.

.In ca 'ng out my invention a relatively thin diap is provided, which is preferably made some tough spring metal, although other materials may be substituted 2o therefor. The diaphr may be made smooth or corrugated, epending u on the service for which it is intended and a so upon the desired ra e of movement. The ob ect in making the 'alphragm thin is to make it 2 5 sensitive to sma variations in pressure.

Such a diaphragm, however, as previously constructed is open to the serious objection.

of weakness when used for anything except very low pressures, and frequent operation 0 thereof usually causes the same to break, the actionbeing much the same as that of a unch and die. I overcome this objection y reinforc' the diaphragm in a novel manner. Exten between a head or movable 5 part attached to the center ofv the diaphragm or moved thereby and the surroundin wall of the casing are a plurality of radial y-extending levers which reinforce the diaphragm at a number of points. The number of these 40 levers can be varied as desired; but all things bein equal the more there are the stronger be the construction. The levers are arran ed to engage the movable head and the statlonary surrounding wall. At

' 5 the points of engagement each lever may be advantageously provided with a well-rounded end, forming a beari which acts in a manner similar to a balloint and permits the parts to roll or move slightly one on the other without binding or cramping.

It is impractical to have a great number of levers, owi to the fact that the central head or movab e piece with which they engage is of small diameter as compared with the diameter of the diaphragm itself. In order to permit the use of a small number of these levers, I provide means which rest on the diaphragm and extend between it and the levers, each of the said means preferably enga ing with two or more levers. The most s atis actory arrangement which I have found for this purpose comprises a plurality of concentric rings or segments thereof which ma be spaced apart or be in contact with eac other. When spaced apart, it necessitates special spacing devicessuch, for example, as notches in the levers. \Vhen the diaphragm is provided with concentric corrugations, the rings can rest in the depressions on one side or be held by notches in the levers at the other. a

The head is attached to a valve, regulator, or other device to be actuated by the diaphragm, and said head may be located on either side of the diaphragm or extend through it. The diaphragm is moved in one direction by fluid un er pressure, which pressure may be opposed by another fluid under ressure or by a spring or equivalent device. en the parts are properly assembled, the diaphragm will receive its motion, due to relative changes in pressure, on opposite sides thereof, and this motion is in turn transtransmitted to the levers either directly b the diaphragm engaging the levers or indirect y by 8 5 acting on the concentric rin s. As the diaphragm movesthe levers wil also move proportionately, the outer ends acting as the center of motion therefor. In this manner the strain is evenly distributed over the en- 0 tire surface of the diaphragm and the danger due to breaking reduced to a minimum.

It is to be noted that owing to the arrangement of the rings and levers every part of the diaphragm is rendered effective-that is to 5 say, there is no substantial area out of engagement with the ring. Hence the tendency of the diaphragm to bulge unevenly between the center and the edge 1s obviated. In this connection it must be borne in mind that any irregularity or unevenness of the diaphragm in a given position represents a loss in eiiective action. I regard the feature above referred to as being an important part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an automat- 5, and Fig. 8 is a detail view showing certain of the parts enlarged.

Referrin to Fig. 1, 1 represents a casing of any suitabiie construction which is provided with an inlet-port 2 and a discharge-port 3, the passage of fluid from one port to the other being controlled by an automatically-actuated valve 4. The casing is provided with a detachable cover 5, which engages a shoulder formed thereon, and between the cover and the shoulder is located a corrugated diaphragm 6. The cover is provided with an internal shoulder 7, with which the outer ends of the radially-extending levers 8 engage. It is also provided with an external screw-thread arranged to receive the adjusting-nut 9. The cover is provided with a central o ening which forms a guide for the cylindrica extension 10 on the head 11. The upper side of the head is rounded somewhat to receive the collar 12, on which the coil compression-spring 13 engages. The head is screw-threaded to. receive the valve-stem 14, and the nut 9 is provided with a central opening which receives the upper end of the stem and acts as a guide therefor. By adjusting the vertical position of the nut the tension of the spring can be varied, and therefore the 0 position to movement of the diaphragm.

e under side of the head is provided with a hub-like projection which rests on the up er side of the diaphragm. Situated below the iaphragm and mounted on the valve-stem is a plate 1 5, which has a somewhat rounded upper surface where it engages with the diaphragm. The object in rounding this surface is to prevent it from cutting the diaphragm. The diaphragm is corrugated, and in the depressions thus formed are rings 16, which may be made in a single piece or segments, as desired. Situated above the rings are the radially-extending levers 8, which are provided with rounded ends 18, that engage with an internal shoulder 7, formed on the cover, and the external shoulder 19, formed on the head. The under side of some or all of the levers may be provided with notches 20, which serve to center the rings. The chamber above the diaphragm may be partially filled with fluid for the purpose of checking the sudden movements of the diaphragm after the manner of a dash-pot.

In Fig. 2 the relation of the levers 8 to each other and to the concentric rings is clearly shown.

In Fig. 5 the diaphragm 6 is made flat instead of corrugated, and the rings 16 instead of being spaced apart are in more oriess intimate frictional engagement with each other. Situated above the rings are levers 21, which instead of being notched on their under side are perfectly plain, but are provided with shoulders 22 at the ends. serve to prevent the rings as a whole from assuming a non-concentric relation with respect to the valve-stem 14. In order to reinforce the diaphragm, the portion of the cover 23 just below the curved outer end of the lever is extended inwardly to a point in close proximity to the outer ring. The central portion of the diaphragm around the head and between it and the inner ring is re inforeed by a nut 24.

In Fig. 8 is shown a slight modification, wherein the diaphragm is uncorrugatcd, and the head 25 is provided with a cylindrical projection 26, with which the inner ends of the levers engage. Situated below the head and forming an extension thereof is a part 27, having an enlargement 28 to reinforce the diaphragm at the central portion. The rings 29 are separated one from the other by a small space and are well rounded on their under side to prevent injury to the diaphragm 30. The outer ends of the levers engage with an internal shoulder formed on the cover.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a diaphragm sensitive to pressure differences, a casing in which the diaphragm is arranged, and means for opposing the action of the diaphragm, in combination with a plurality of rings bearing against the diaphragm to reinforce the same, and means movable with the diaphragm for maintaining the rings in operative relation thereto.

2. An' apparatus of the character de- These shoulders scribed, comprising a diaphragm sensitive to pressure difi'erences, a means for opposing the action of the diaphragm, and a surrounding casing in which the diaphragm is seated, in combination with one or more rings or segments thereof which engage the diaphragm, and radially-extending levers which en age the rings for sustaining the pressure to w ich the diaphragm is subjected.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a diaphragm sensitive to pressure differences, a means for opposing the action of the diaphragm, and a surrounding casing in which the dia hragm is seated, in combination with a plurality of rings which are seated on the diaphragm, means for spacing the rings apart, and levers engaging the rings for sustaining the pressure on the diaphragms.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a diaphragm sensitive to pressure differences, a means for opposing the action of the diaphragm, and a surrounding casing in which the diaphragm is seated, in combination with a head which is provided with an external shoulder adjacent to the diaphragm, a cover for the casing having an 15 concentric upon the rings and engage the shoulders.

In witness whereof hand this 22d day of March, 1904.

ELIHU THOMSON. I

Witnesses:

DUGALD MoK. MGKILLOP, JOHN A. MCMANUS.

have hereunto set my 20 

